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  Laser ablated elastomer sheath profiles to enables stent securementUSPTO Application #: 20070021817Title: Laser ablated elastomer sheath profiles to enables stent securement Abstract: The stent placement dilation balloon assembly comprises a catheter having a distal end, a distal end portion, and a proximal end, a balloon mounted to, about, and around the distal end portion of the catheter. The assembly further includes an elastic sheath positioned about and around the balloon. The outer surface of the sheath includes a profile which encourages stent securement. A stent is mounted on the sleeve for placement in a vessel in a human body. (end of abstract) Agent: Vidas, Arrett & Steinkraus, P.A. - Minnetonka, MN, US Inventors: James Lee Shippy, Karl Jagger USPTO Applicaton #: 20070021817 - Class: 623001110 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Prosthesis (i.e., Artificial Body Members), Parts Thereof, Or Aids And Accessories Therefor, Arterial Prosthesis (i.e., Blood Vessel), Stent Combined With Surgical Delivery System (e.g., Surgical Tools, Delivery Sheath, Etc.) The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070021817. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] This invention relates to an assembly and method for delivering and deploying an expandable medical device, particularly within a lumen of a body vessel. More specifically, this invention relates to stent securement devices, most notably, sheaths positioned between the balloon and the stent. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) is a procedure that is well established for the treatment of blockages, lesions, stenosis, thrombus, etc. present in body lumens such as the coronary arteries and/or other vessels. [0003] A widely used form of percutaneous coronary angioplasty makes use of a dilatation balloon catheter, which is introduced into and advanced, through a lumen or body vessel until the distal end thereof is at a desired location in the vasculature. Once in position across an afflicted site, the expandable portion of the catheter, or balloon, is inflated to a predetermined size with a fluid at relatively high pressures. By doing so the vessel is dilated, thereby radially compressing the atherosclerotic plaque of any lesion present against the inside of the artery wall, and/or otherwise treating the afflicted area of the vessel. The balloon is then deflated to a small profile so that the dilatation catheter may be withdrawn from the patient's vasculature and blood flow resumed through the dilated artery. [0004] In angioplasty procedures of the kind described above, there may be restenosis of the artery, which either necessitates another angioplasty procedure, a surgical by-pass operation, or some method of repairing or strengthening the area. To reduce restenosis and strengthen the area, a physician can implant an intravascular prosthesis for maintaining vascular patency, such as a stent, inside the artery at the lesion. [0005] Stents, grafts, stent-grafts, vena cava filters, expandable frameworks, and similar implantable medical devices, collectively referred to hereinafter as stents, are radially expandable endoprostheses which are typically intravascular implants capable of being implanted transluminally and enlarged radially after being introduced percutaneously. Stents may be implanted in a variety of body lumens or vessels such as within the vascular system, urinary tracts, bile ducts, fallopian tubes, coronary vessels, secondary vessels, etc. Stents may be used to reinforce body vessels and to prevent restenosis following angioplasty in the vascular system. They may be self-expanding, such as a nitinol shape memory stent, mechanically expandable, such as a balloon expandable stent, or hybrid expandable. [0006] Prior to delivery a stent or stents may be retained on a portion of the delivery catheter by crimping the stent onto the catheter, retaining the stent in a reduced state about the catheter with a removable sheath, sleeve, sock or other member or members, or by any of a variety of retaining mechanisms or methods. Some examples of stent retaining mechanisms are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,681,345; U.S. Pat. No. 5,788,707; U.S. Pat. No. 5,968,069; U.S. Pat. No. 6,066,155; U.S. Pat. No. 6,096,045; U.S. Pat. No. 6,221,097; U.S. Pat. No. 6,331,186; U.S. Pat. No. 6,342,066; U.S. Pat. No. 6,350,277; U.S. Pat. No. 6,443,880; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,478,814. [0007] It is desirous to provide for a stent delivery system which has the capability to both deliver and seat a stent, while also providing the catheter with a desired low profile prior to delivery. [0008] All US patents, applications and all other published documents mentioned anywhere in this application are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. [0009] Without limiting the scope of the invention a brief summary of some of the claimed embodiments of the invention is set forth below. Additional details of the summarized embodiments of the invention and/or additional embodiments of the invention may be found in the Detailed Description of the Invention below. [0010] A brief abstract of the technical disclosure in the specification is provided as well only for the purposes of complying with 37 C.F.R. 1.72. The abstract is not intended to be used for interpreting the scope of the claims. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0011] The present invention is particularly concerned with stent securement and the delivery and deployment of expandable stents. Some embodiments of the invention are directed to catheters and catheter assemblies having an expandable medical balloon mounted on its distal end. An elastic sheath is positioned about the expandable medical balloon and an expandable medical device, such as a stent, is mounted onto the sheath. The outer surface of the sheath includes a securement mechanism, which engages the loaded stent. [0012] In at least one embodiment, the outer surface of the sheath includes a plurality of notches, which are cut into the sheath. The notches are cut at an angle, such that circumferential blades are formed. The blades may engage the loaded stent, providing axial securement. [0013] In at least one embodiment, the outer surface of the sheath includes a plurality of circumferential ribs. The ribs may be integral with the sheath material or be bonded to the sheath. The ribs may engage the loaded stent, providing axial securement. In some embodiments the stent securement mechanism(s) minimize or eliminate axial movement of the stent while permitting rotational movement of the stent about the sheath. [0014] In at least one embodiment, the outer surface of the sheath includes stent retention strips or patches. The strips or patches may engage the loaded stent, providing axial and/or circumferential securement. The sheath may also have memory characteristics, such that, when it is in its relaxed state, it takes on an accordion configuration. A relaxed state is the state that the sheath is in when there are no external forces on sheath other than ambient forces. When in its accordion configuration, the stent retention strips or patches are predominately exposed relative to the outer surface of sheath which is not covered with strips or patches. [0015] These and other embodiments which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and forming a part hereof. However, for a better understanding of the invention, its advantages and objectives obtained by its use, reference should be made to the drawings which form a further part hereof and the accompanying descriptive matter, in which there is illustrated and described embodiments of the invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S) [0016] A detailed description of the invention is hereafter described with specific reference being made to the drawings. [0017] FIG. 1 shows a partial cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the invention. [0018] FIG. 2 shows a partial cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the invention. [0019] FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the sheath of the present invention. [0020] FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of a portion of an embodiment of the sheath of the present invention. Continue reading... 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